Tibetan Exiles Go to Polls

AFP) Tibetan exiles went to the polls to elect a prime minister and members of
the 46-member Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies based in Dharamsala. The
one-day ballot is being held at 53 polling stations set up by the election
commission for Tibetans living in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Europe and North
America. It is the final round of polls to elect members of the Tibetan
parliament in exile, and it is also the preliminary election for prime
minister. It is only the second time that Tibetan exiles have participated in
popular elections for a Kalon Tripa. The first direct vote for a prime minister
was in 2001. More than 82,000 of the estimated 100,000 Tibetans living in exile
have registered to vote and there are 80 candidates for office. A final round
of voting to elect the prime minister will take place on 03 June 2006 with the
results expected a month later. Assembly results are due in early April.